Look beyond specific religions, says Indian prelate

An Indian archbishop has urged leaders of various religions to look beyond their communities and promote the human family.

â€śBehind every civilization there is a unifying vision of reality and in our case, it is a spiritual vision, and it is the most important element in a culture,â€ť Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati said at a recent colloquium in Pune, western India.

About 100 representatives of various religions and NGOs attended the Jan. 6-8 program that addressed the theme, "Indian pluralism and solidarity for a just humanity.â€ť

â€śGod reveals himself in cultures and communities when they draw closer to each other as though in a pre-ordained fashion,â€ť the Salesian archbishop Â said in his keynote address. HeÂ â€śgenuine religionâ€ť does not promote sectarianism or put up boundaries.

â€śAll our destinies are interwoven and until the last of us has lived, the significance of the first cannot be finally clear,â€ť he told Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs and agnostics.